I can't say that I'm a chicken behaviorist. I don't profess to understand what goes through the mind of a chicken. But I think the Welsummers are territorial!
We live on several acres of untended pasture land. The stray cats, snakes, hawks, owls and coyotes feast on the mice that live in the pasture. Our backyard is not a coiffed parcel, but more pasture where the chickens can graze in peace, until a mouse tries to invade their space. In the past month, the Welsummers have stomped, killed and played chase with little mice that get into their pen. Sure, I can totally understand why mice want to get into the pens, because the chickens routinely drop food on the ground. But, obviously, if it mouse dallies at all, these gals are gonna turn that poor little mouse into an object of fun or revenge.
No, I did not take photos of the little squished mouse carcass that I found today. I pulled it out of the pen and threw it into field.
By the way, all three Welsummers are laying eggs now. We have received five cute little chocolate colored eggs. Despite the Orloffs going into molt, we are still getting a few eggs from them, from time to time.
